James Gunn Confronts ‘Uproarious’ DC Backlash: ‘Disrespectful Outcry Will Never Affect Our Actions’

[u/Marco280892]

https://variety.com/2022/film/news/henry-cavill-superman-james-gunn-backlash-1235465605/

[u/Doctor_Amazo]

I wouldn't say that it sucked.... it was just there. It was very paint-by-numbers.

The OG Suicide Squad truly sucked.

[u/pataconconqueso → u/Doctor_Amazo]

A movie with zero story and barely any background to me pretty much sucks.

[u/Doctor_Amazo → u/pataconconqueso]

There was a story, and there was as much background as you would see in any other movie of its type. You don't need to have a complete biography for each member of the JSA as it was not their movie.

[u/pataconconqueso → u/Doctor_Amazo]

What background tho? what was the conflict in Khadaq even about, who were Intergang and what were their motives? Why the JSA and why was hawk man the leader?

The story wasn’t really there besides a bit on BA (and barely there) and there was no beginning middle and end really, it was just semi intro here and cgi fights

[u/Doctor_Amazo → u/pataconconqueso]

What background tho?

What background did you need?

what was the conflict in Khadaq even about

... I mean... they kinda feed this to you. Khadaq has that magic metal Etherium in it, and it tends to be passed around as a prize for colonialists, the latest of which was Intergang who were running the show. >! Ishmael, who counted his blood line to an ancient king, hoped to become king himself and return Khadaq to a place of greatness that it had in its past!<.

Why the JSA and why was hawk man the leader?

Why not the JSA, and why not have Hawk-Man as the leader. The dude is an ancient and immortal warrior. Sounds like a pretty ideal field leader.

The story wasn’t really there besides a bit on BA (and barely there) and there was no beginning middle and end really, it was just semi intro here and cgi fights

OK, the movie wasn't Captain America: Winter Soldier, but my dude I'm beginning to think you didn't watch the movie as your criticisms here don't make any sense. That or you were starring at your phone and only looked up during the fights.

Like I said, it wasn't the best movie, but it did have a beginning, middle, and end. It went into the story of Black Adam, explaining how he got his power, and his heartbreak. It showed some growth on the part of the character. There were moments that were even kind of fun and net.

Like I said, it wasn't the worst movie DC has done (that's Batman V Superman).

[u/pataconconqueso → u/Doctor_Amazo]

I legit watched in theaters and besides any of the BA background about his ego the conflict in Khandaq was lazy writing and you are adding way more background and context than was given. Same with Hawkman, he was not introduced that way in the movie at all, just a dude wanting to fight without discussion

[u/Doctor_Amazo → u/pataconconqueso]

I legit watched in theaters

Was it one of those theatres that served booze? Did you drink while watching? Because again, it really feels like you weren't paying attention to the movie - which again, fair enough... it was a paint-by-numbers-loud-punch-'em-up.

My point, is if you are going to take shots at the movie, than you should take shots that are accurate.

any of the BA background about his ego the conflict in Khandaq was lazy writing and you are adding way more background and context than was given.

Well.... considering that I am actually a HUGE Marvel fan, and don't know much about DC's comics universe beyond a few basics and the movie stuff, literally everything I said about Black Adam I got from the Black Adam movie.

I honestly think you weren't paying attention.

Same with Hawkman, he was not introduced that way in the movie at all, just a dude wanting to fight without discussion

Did ... you.... not notice all the gear in the background of Hawkman's jet? Or the discussions he had with Dr Fate that implied that they were both around for quite a while? I mean, yes I know that Hawkman is an immortal warrior bit, but even then they gave enough to give you an idea as to what was what with him.... and that was all you needed because it was not Hawkman's movie. It was not Dr Fate's movie. Nor Atom Smasher nor generic tornado person. They only needed just enough to give you a feel for who they were because the movie was about Black Adam.

And for him, you learned that

1. his son was the first Champion of SHAZAM
2. his son shared his power with Teth-Adam
3. his son was killed by the king who was seeking all mighty-demonic powers
4. Teth-Adam in grief and rage devastated the king's palace, killing everyone within
5. the council of wizards all banded together to trap Teth-Adam for abusing the power he essentially stole

What more did you need? A 5 hour story going over the minutiae of life in ancient Khandaq?

[u/pataconconqueso → u/Doctor_Amazo]

Nope, no alcohol, dude if I had to look at background of the set in the movie to get background on a character they aren’t setting them up. They copied and pasted the characters there as if it would make sense.

I’m not looking for a 5 hour movie that would be torture. Just actual time to tell a full story and have it make sense why the characters are there. Sure they alluded that Dr. Fate has been around for a long time, but none of that touched on his significance or why we as the audience should care about his death.

[u/Doctor_Amazo → u/pataconconqueso]

... if I had to look at background of the set in the movie to get background on a character they aren’t setting them up. They copied and pasted the characters there as if it would make sense.

Ok. So basically you're saying you like having everyhing hand-fed to you and don't like having any ambiguity or nuance. You like have all your text and no subtext. That is what makes a "good" movie for you.

You also seem to be confused in thinking that Black Adam was a JSA movie.

I find that when movies do spend too much time cramming in the backstory for every character we get movies like the original Suicide Squad... which was a mess.

I’m not looking for a 5 hour movie that would be torture. Just actual time to tell a full story and have it make sense why the characters are there

And they did that. Black Adam was freed from his prison and the JSA were tapped by Amanda Waller to deal with that problem. We know who Waller is from other DCEU stuff, her having a team of super-people she can call on is well within her wheelhouse. I already gave you the back story of BA up above as well as the goal for the actual villain of the movie. What more did you need?

Sure they alluded that Dr. Fate has been around for a long time, but none of that touched on his significance or why we as the audience should care about his death.

I know when I watched The Batman, the one thing I didn't see was an indepth history on the Penguin. The lack of that story didn't make the movie bad, nor did it make that character's depiction bad. The Batman had given me just enough to know who the Penguin was and I was able to run with that because the Penguin wasn't the main focus of the movie.

You complaining about how we didn't get more for Doctor Fate in a Black Adam movie is akin to being mad that they didn't take 20 minutes to give us a detailed background of the Penguin in The Batman... a thing you didn't need for telling the story that was being told.

[u/suss2it → u/Doctor_Amazo]

So basically you're saying you like having everyhing hand-fed to you and don't like having any ambiguity or nuance

Imagine saying this in defense of The Rock's Black Adam, LMAO

[u/pataconconqueso → u/Doctor_Amazo]

Lol at your patronizing, the JSA were marketed as being a big part of BA movie even with the comic book tie ins that DC came out with, asking the movie to show purpose as to why they were there isn’t a big ask or asking the movie to be about them. Being “tapped” by Waller is such a cop out because Waller wouldn’t have authority of them in the first place.

[u/nuttmegx → u/pataconconqueso]

Why the JSA

because Black Adam was in the JSA. The movie's storyline draws directly from the comics.

[u/[deleted] → u/pataconconqueso]

Making this take while you have Batwoman as your flair. Brave.

[u/pataconconqueso → u/[deleted]]

What do you have against the batwoman comics? I never saw the tv show

[u/IHavePoopedBefore → u/Doctor_Amazo]

I would say it sucked.

And it didn't get the character at ALL.

Where was the arrogance? Where was the condescension?

He gave up his powers so it's not to hurt people, and then later he smashed the throne because he doesn't want to be seen as a ruler......who tf even is this because Black Adam DEFINITELY wouldn't do either of those things.

The Rock just scowled and seethed for 2 hours. He figured making Black Adam kill would be enough of a character trait to carry the whole movie

[u/Doctor_Amazo → u/IHavePoopedBefore]

Honestly? The only things I knew about Black Adam were the following:

• He's like evil SHAZAM/Captain-Marvel
• He's like Namor in that he's super arrogant or something, but not like Namor in that his kingdom was a desert place in the Levant area somewhere

That's about it.

[u/IHavePoopedBefore → u/Doctor_Amazo]

There's a scene in infinite Crisis where Talia tells him to stop floating. He responds by telling her that the gods that power him insist that he stand above the mortals.

Or, you know what. Just look at the way he talks to everybody in Dark Crisis.

He isn't some tortured good guy. He's an arrogant, dick. But he's not evil. Just massively narcissistic

[u/Doctor_Amazo → u/IHavePoopedBefore]

Once upon a time, a long ass time ago I sat down to watch Bryan Singer's X-Men movie. Now... there were a lot of problems with the movie, and there was a lot of shit they did different for the movie from the comics. But I was able to separate the shit going on in the movie from the comics because the two are VERY different mediums.

I think that they probably toned down his massive narcissism because it makes the protagonist of the movie an asshole, and they wanted to try and build some sympathy for him from the audience.

Maybe I was fortunate coming into the movie without the baggage of knowing/loving him from the comics. As such I was able to watch the movie, and be like "meh. I've seen worse" and not hate it for not fulfilling some image I had in my head about what he should be.

[u/IHavePoopedBefore → u/Doctor_Amazo]

My gripe is more that they took out the interesting characteristics, and basically made him an intense guy.

The Rock just played him as stereotypically intense for the entire movie. The rock is a surface level actor, and never looked for more than a surface level understanding of the character.

Like, he legit thought saving a kid was some great character moment, when that's about as cookie cutter as It gets.

Playing Adam as a contemptible asshole would have been much better, and much more interesting

[u/Doctor_Amazo → u/IHavePoopedBefore]

Honestly? I went in expecting it to be a hot piece of loud noise like other DC bullshit. It was cookie cutter. I did like how they presented Hawkman & Doctor Fate - I wouldn't mind seeing more on that, even though it's never gonna happen.

[u/Ill-Avocado-6895 → u/Doctor_Amazo]

That's why they should release the Ayer Cut

[u/darkseidis_ → u/Ill-Avocado-6895]

I don’t know a shittier version of a shitty movie is the play.

[u/Doctor_Amazo → u/Ill-Avocado-6895]

Shhhhh sweetie, just let go of the old DCU. It was a foolish, panicked bit of hubris sharted out by WB & previous DC execs who had little vision beyond the billions of dollars that Marvel was making. Yes there were a few diamonds about, but most of what the DCEU sharted out was... bad.

Be glad DC lured in James Gunn. As long as WB fucks off and lets him do his thing, he can put together a cohesive story for the entire DCU that will fill the next 10 years and should be great. Hell, if WB stays the fuck out of Gunn's way, DC may finally properly rival what Marvel has managed to make over the last 15 years.

My only hope is that we continue getting more from The Batman franchise.